Improvement in watch-keys



A. C.' NDIRCROSS.`

Watch-Keys.

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`Patentedjuh/14,1874..

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ALVIN C. NOROROSS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMNT IN WATCH-KEYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,011, dated July 14, 1874, application filed June 1, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN. G. Nouenoss, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vatch-Keys, of which the following is a description suficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved key; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section, representing the key when not in use; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section, representing the key as ready for use; Fig. 4, a transverse section, taken on the line c b, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, an end view of Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawing.

My invention relates to that class of watchkeys which are provided with a mea-ns for closing the tube when the key is not employed in winding the watch 5 and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a simpler, cheaper, and more effective device of this character is produced than is 110W in common use.

In the drawing, A is the case or body of the key 5 B, the compress or slide head; O, the tube-stock; D, the tube; E, the piston, E, the pistonstock; F, the spring-catch 5 G, the puslrpin, H, the coiled spring, and cc, the slide.

f The spring H acts expansive] y, one end of the same pressing against the inner end of the head B, and the other resting upon the fixed diaphragm or ledge d, projecting from the case A. The slide a' passes loosely through an aperture in the diaphragm, and is screwed into the tube-stock C. The pistonstock E is permanently attached to theinterior surface of the case A, and is provided with the notch c. rIhe tube-stock C is recessed to receive the spring F, which is attached at one end to said stock, as shown at j. The piston E projects from the stock Ef, extending outwardly within the tube D. The push-pin G is fitted loosely in an aperture extending through the case A and stock E', and is so disposed as to act upon the free end of the spring F.

From the foregoing the nature and operation of my invention will be readily under stood by all conversant with such matters.

It is well known that watch-keys when carried in the pocket areliable to become Iilled with dirt, which, when the key is used, is conveyed into the works of the watch, frequently causing much damage.

My invention is designed'to obviate that difficulty, and to this end I employ a key constructed as described, or in such a manner that when not in use the tube is not only housedl but filled by the piston in such a manner as to prevent the entrance of all foreign substances.

lVhen not in use the parts in my improved key assume the relative positions shown in Fig. 2.

The parts being in this position, to prepare the key for winding the Watch, it is only necessary to push the slide ein by pressing on the head B until the free end of the spring F falls into the notch c, thus opening the tube D and causing it to protrude beyond the case A, and the spring II to be compressed, as shown in Fig. 3. After the key has been used, by slightly pressing the push-pin G the spring F will be detached from the notch z, when the expansive action of the spring H will throw back the slide 0c and house the tube, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

In the construction of the key the case A, tube D, and piston E are so arranged as to form a square or smooth end to the key, as 111 Figs. l, 2, und 5, when the tube is housed, thus preventing the destruction of the pocket, which would occur were the tube left to protrude, as in Fig. 3, and the piston advanced within the tube instead of the tube being retracted as described.

I am aware that pistons with and without springs have been employed in keys of this character to prevent dirt and foreign substances from lodging in the tube, and, therefore, do not claim the same broadly, but

What I claim is- The watch-key described, consisting of the case A, tube D, piston E, spring F, pin G, slide cc, and spring H, combined to operate substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ALVIN O. NOROROSS.

Witnesses C. A. SHAW, H. E. ME'ICALF. 

